David Mwanje
The Bavandimwe community, the proud indigenous Banyarwanda of Uganda, stood united under the leadership of Council Chairman Frank Gashumba, proclaiming their unyielding support for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the 2026 general elections. This declaration, announced amidst rhythmic applause and heartfelt prayers, marked not just a political endorsement but a celebration of a restored identity, ignited by Museveni’s bold vision to end decades of discrimination of Banyarwanda.
The spark for this movement was Museveni’s Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, signed on January 24, a decree that shattered the chains of systemic exclusion. For too long, the Banyarwanda recognized as tribe number 24 in Uganda’s 1995 Constitution endured the sting of being labeled foreigners in their ancestral homeland. Denied national IDs and passports, they were locked out of economic opportunities, from opening bank accounts to traveling abroad. “We were ghosts in our own country, our dreams tethered by bureaucracy,” Gashumba told the gathered crowd, his voice thick with emotion. “But Museveni, with the wisdom of a sage and the courage of a lion, changed our story.”
The executive order mandated the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control to issue identity documents without prejudice, affirming that citizenship by birth is a sacred right. Museveni went further, promising a community-driven verification process led by local leaders and elders, not distant technocrats. “Let the people who know their own verify their own,” he declared during a June 2025 State House meeting, his words now etched in the hearts of the Bavandimwe. He also abolished unreasonable requirements, like tracing lineage to 1926, which had unfairly targeted the Banyarwanda, ensuring a new era of inclusion.
The impact was felt on ground. NIRA has begun issuing national IDs to thousands, unlocking doors to education, employment, and global mobility. “Our youth can now dream without borders,” said Bukyana Justine, the Council’s publicity officer, her eyes alight with hope. Yet, challenges linger, with over 8,000 passport applications stalled at the immigration department. Museveni’s pledge to establish a dedicated desk to clear this backlog has fueled optimism, with Gashumba declaring, “We trust the President to finish what he started.”
The Bavandimwe’s endorsement is more than political it’s a sacred pact, inspired by a Kalangala fishermen’s proverb: “He who gives you, you give back.” Museveni’s gift was dignity; the community’s return is loyalty. “He is not just a leader but a sage whose knowledge lights Uganda’s path,” Gashumba said, praising Museveni’s unmatched vision. The community, over 11 million strong, has launched a nationwide crusade, a caravan of unity set to traverse Uganda’s hills and valleys starting next week. From the misty Rwenzori slopes to the sunlit shores of Lake Victoria, they aim to rally every citizen behind Museveni’s banner, ensuring a landslide victory in 2026.
This movement carries echoes of history. “Our ancestors fought beside Museveni in the NRA’s revolutionary war,” Gashumba reminded the crowd, invoking the Banyarwanda’s sacrifices. Yet, some voices, like the Umubano group, caution that certain directives risk excluding Banyarwanda in specific regions. Undeterred, the Bavandimwe see Museveni’s actions as a beacon of justice, a promise kept to a people once silenced.
